Feeding mechanism.



H. U. BAKER.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00110, 1912.

. v I @211: s? 1 WiZ i al 14 ,Zzlwrzforz' g Ha v/e 612941675 Patented 001314, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. O. BAKER.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 10, 1912.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

3 S HEETSSHEET 2.

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H. C. BAKER.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00110, 1912.

1,075,535, Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

coLUMBL} PLANOGRAPH CD.,WASHINOTON. D. c.

HARVEY C. BAKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FEEDING MECHANIS'M.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 14, 1913.

Application filed'october 10, 1912. Serial No.725,'05.4.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARVEY C. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanism adapted for employment in conjunction with punch presses or like machinery.

The object of my invention is the produc tion of a feeding mechanism of the character mentioned which will be automatic in its operation and which may be readily and easily connected with a punch press or other suitable machine.

A further object is the production of a feeding mechanism which will be of durable and economical construction and of high efiiciency in operation.

Qther objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in View my invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a feeding mechanism embodying my invention, the same being shown arranged in conjunction with a punch press, fragments of the latter only being illustrated, Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is adetail of a connecting rod included in the construction, Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the work-engaging portion of the feeder shown attached to the bed of the machine in conjunction with which the same is used, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is an end. elevation thereof, Fig. 7 is a vertical longi tudinal section taken on substantially line of Fig. 4, and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line go-y of Fig. 4.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a body frame which is adapted to be rigidly secured to the bed 1 of the machine in conjunction with which the feeding mechanism is to be employed, screws 1 being used to connect said frame with the machine bed. Said frame is comprised of two parallelly extending spaced members 2 which are rigidly connected at their upper and lower sides by means of cross pieces 3 and 4 respectively. Extending between the frame members 2 is a transversely extending bar 5, the eX- tremit-ies of said bar engaging elongated recesses 6 provided in the upper edges of the members 2 so as to permit of reciprccatory movement of said bar longitudinally of said frame members. The upper sides of the recesses 6 are closed by straps or elongated plates 7 which serve evidently to hold the ends of the bar 5 in position in the recesses 6. Mounted upon the upperside of the bar 5 is a plate 8, the latter being secured to said bar by means of screws or bolts 9 which engage elongated slots 10 provided in said plate so as to permit of adjustment of said plate relative to said bar, said bar serving in the capacity of a carrier for said plate. The plate 8 is securely held in positions of adjustment upon the bar or carrier 5 by means of screws 11 which are threaded in lugs 12 formed upon said plate, the inner ends of said screws engaging against the opposite sides of the heads of the bolts 9 as clearly shown in Figs. 4 5 and 7. This construction also permits of minute adjustment of the plate 8 upon the member 5 in order to exactly secure any desired adjustment of said plate upon said bar.

Pivoted at 13 upon one edge of the plate 8 is an arm 14 to which is pivotally secured at 15 a pawl 16. The free end of the pawl 16 is adapted, wh n the device is in operation, to engage the edge of the work with which the same cooperates to effect feeding of the latter toward the punch press or other machine, said pawl engaging recesses r slots provided at intervals in the adjacent edge of the work. The engaging end of said pawl is bifurcated as at 17 as shown in Figs. 4 and 8 so that in operation the same will be adapted to embrace the edge portion of the work engaged thereby. A compression spring 18 cooperates with the pawl 16 to normally hold the latter in yielding engagement wit-h the adjacent edge of the work. Arranged upon the upper side of one of the frame members 2 adjacent the inner end thereof is a block 19 secured in position by means of a screw 20 which engages an elongated slot 21 provided in said block so as to permit of adjustment of the latter. The inner end of the block 19 is positioned for engagement with the adjacent side of the arm 14 so as to serve in the capacity of a gage determining the line or plane of reciprocation of said arm and hence of the pawl 16 when the bar 5 and plate 8 are reciprocated in the manner hereinafter described. The adjustment afforded the gage block 19 permit-s of the device being used in conjunction with work of different widths as will be understood as the description proceeds.

Reciprocation of the member 5 and hence of the mechanism connected therewith is effected through the medium of a vertically reciprocating actuating mechanism. This mechanism comprises a substantially inverted U-shaped member which consists of the side plates 22 and the connecting bar or yoke 23. The members 22, when the device is in operation, are adapted to reciprocate upon vertically disposed guide bars 24 which are secured upon the outer sides of the frame members 2, said bars 23 being channeled as shown for the snug reception of the adjacent edges of the plates 22. The lower ends of the plates 22 are provided with inclined surfaces 25 which are adapted upon downward movement of said plates, to engage against the adjacent edges of the end portions of the member 5 so as to force said member 5 and hence the mechanism carried thereby toward the punch press 1 or other machine. Reciprocatory movement of the plates 22 is effected through the medium of a connecting bar 26 which is pivotally secured at its lower end as at 27 to the yoke 23. The upper extremity of the connecting bar 26 engages the crank pin 28 of a crank plate 29 which is secured to the adjacent extremity of the operating shaft 30 of the punch press or other machine so that when said shaft 30 is rotated the connecting bar 26 and hence the parts connected therewith will be reciprocated in a vertical plane. The connecting bar 26 is longitudinally adjustable in order that the proper relative position of the plates 22 or the inclined cam surfaces 25 thereof relative to the member 5 may be secured. The connecting bar 26 is rendered longitudinally adjustable as mentioned preferably by forming the same in sections, as shown, the upper section 31 be ing provided with an elongated slot 32 which affords clearance for screws 33 which connect the overlapping ends of the upper and lower sections of said bar. With this arrangement it will be seen that longitudinal adjustment of the connecting bar may be effected through manipulation of the screws 33.

The actuating mechanism just described then serves simply as a means of moving the member 5 and the parts connected therewith in one direction or to move the same in an operative direction, the pawl when thus moved being adapted upon engagement with a recess in the adjacent edge of the work, to move the latter a distance corresponding with the distance which the pawl itself is moved by the actuating mechanism. Return movement of said pawl or of the bar 5 is effected by means of helical tension springs 34, the inner ends of said springs being connected with the member 5 intermediate its ends, the outer ends of said springs being secured to the outer extremities of arms 35 which project from the frame members 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The member 5 is normally held by the springs 34 in a position against stops 36, the latter serving as a means of limiting the return movement of the latter. Said stops 36 are adjustably mounted in the slots 6 in the frame members 2, the same being provided with guide pins 37 which engage guide openings 38 in the outer end portions of the members 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 7. Screws 39 threaded in said ends of said frame members 2 serve as a means of determining the positions of the stops 36in the slot 6 and hence as a means of determining the return or normal position of the mem her 5, it being clear that by rotating said screws 39 to move the same outwardly relative to the frame members 2, the bars 5 will be permitted to move in the recesses 6 closer to the outer ends thereof, and that by rotating said screws in the opposite direction the stopping point of the member 5 will be moved inwardly. The screws 39 thus serve as a means of determining the amplitude of oscillation of the member 5 since said screws afford means for adjusting the position of the member 5 relative to the cam surfaces 25, it being clear that the position of the member 5 relative to the cam surfaces 25 determines the amplitude of movement which is imparted to the member 5 upon downward movement of the actuating plates 22. Provided upon the screws 39 are lock nuts 40 which serve to lock said screws 39 in positions of adjustment.

Provided at the inner ends of the recesses 6 are blocks 41 which are movably secured in position by means of screws 42, the outer ends of said screws loosely engaging openings 43 provided for the reception thereof in the inner ends of the frame members 2. The heads of the screws 42 engage against shoulders provided in the openings 43, as shown in Fig, 7, thus serving as stops to limit the movement of said blocks 41. The blocks 41 serve as stops to limit the for- Ward or operative movement of the member 5, compression springs 44 coiiperating with said block serving as a means of cushioning the blow upon contact of the member 5 with said blocks. By means of the screws 42 the positions of the blocks 41 relative to the inner terminal of movement of the member 5 may be adjusted, it being clear that said screws may be rotated to effect this adjustment by insertion of a screw-driver into the openings 43 upon removal of the securing bolts 1.

Mounted upon the upper side of the plate 3 is a substantially inverted U-shaped member 45 which is rigidly secured in position by means of screws 46. Arranged in the opening formed within the member 45 and the upper side of the member 3 are two plates 47 arranged one above the other, said plates being vertically slidable upon the guide pins 48 secured at their respective eX- tremities in the members 3 and 45 as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The lowermost of the plates 47 is supported upon compression springs 49 which are arranged in seats formed therefor in the upper side of the member 3 four springs 49 being preferably employed. Threaded in the member 45 are set screws 50 the lower ends of which are adapted to contact with the upper side of the uppermost of the plates 47 to serve as a means of maintaining said plate in close engagement with the lower plate 47.

In the operation of the device, the work, which is to be fed thereby, is first passed be tween the piates 47, the adjacent front edges of said plates being preferably rounded as shown in Fig. 6 in order to facilitate insertion of the work to a position between said plates. Said plates serve to frictionally en gage the work positioned between the same, and, when the feeding mechanism is in operation, serve to overcome movement of the work beyond the point to which the same is fed by the pawl 16 by reason of inertia. The springs 49 in this arrangement serve to force the lowermost plate 47 into close engagement with the work to maintain the friction desired, the force thus exerted upon the work by said plates being capable of regulation by manipulation of the set screws 50. Arranged upon the front side of the mei'nber is a gage plate 51 secured thereto by means of screws 52, said screws engaging elongated slots provided in the plate so as to permit of adjustment thereof. in use the plate 51 is so adjusted that the edge 54- thereof will contact with one edge of the work entering between the plates 47 and thus serve to p operly guide the same toward the punch press or other machine and for engagement by the feeding pawl 16.

A feeding mechanism of the construction set forth is durable and economical. By reason of the various adjustments afforded, the device is rendered serviceable in conjunc tion with work of various sizes or dimensions. Also, by reason of the various adjustments afforded the accurate feeding of the work is made possible. The device may be used in con unction with machines of various types and is of high eflieiency when in operation.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising reciprocatory work-engaging means adapted to engage and feed the work only when moved in one direction; a reciproeatory element operating at substantially right angles to said work-engag ing means having an inclined surface adapted upon reciprocatory movement of said element to effect operative movement of said work-engaging means; means for frictionally engaging the work to overcome inertia when said work is fed by said work-engaging means; and means for eflecting the return movement of said work-engaging means, substantially as described.

2. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising a frame; work-engag ing means mounted to reciprocate in said frame; means mounted for reciprocatory movement in said frame in a direction at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said work-engaging means, said last mentioned means having inclined cam surfaces adapted upon reciprocation to effect operative movement of said workengaging means; resilient means for effecting return movement of said work-engaging means; threaded means for adjusting the position of said work-engaging means in said frame relative to the work engaged; and means for adjusting the position of said second mentioned means relative to said work-engaging means, substantially as described.

3. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising a frame adapted for at tachment to a punch press bed or the like; work-engaging means mounted for hori Zontal reciprocation in said frame; actuating means mounted for vertical reciprocation in said frame, said actuating means having inclined cam surfaces adapted when moved downwardly to engage against said work-engaging means to move the latter in one direction in said frame; resilient means for effecting return movement of said workengaging means; adjustable stops for determining the amplitude of oscillation of said work-engaging means; and means for adjust-ing said actuating means to determine the lower terminal of movement thereof, substantially as described.

4:. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising a frame adapted for attachment to a punch press bed or the like; a carrier mounted for horizontal reciprocation in said frame; a work-engaging member adjustably mounted on said carrier adapted to engage and feed the workonly while moving in one direction; adjustable stops for said carrier; actuating means mounted for vertical reciprocation in guides provided in said frame, said actuating means having inclined surfaces adapted to engage against said carrier for imparting opera tive movement thereto; and resilient means for effecting return movement of said carrier, substantially as described.

5. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising a frame adapted for attachment to a punch press bed or the like; a carrier mounted for horizontal reciprocation in said frame; a work-engaging member adjustably mounted on said carrier adapted to engage and feed the work only while moving in one direction; adjustable stops for said carrier; actuating means mounted for vertical reciprocation in guides provided in said frame, said actuating means having inclined surfaces adapted to engage against said carrier for imparting operative movement thereto; resilient means for effecting return movement of said carrier; and means in said frame for frictionally engaging the work passing therethrough to overcome in.-

ertia when the work is fed by said work-engaging means substantially as described.

6. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising a frame adapted for attachment to a punch press bed or the like; a carrier mounted for horizontal reciprocation in said frame; a plate secured to said carrier at the upper side thereof and adjustable in a direction coincident with the direction of movement of said carrier; an arm pivoted at one end of said plate for movement in a vertical plane; a pawl pivoted to said arm for movement in a horizontal plane the free end of said pawl being adapted to engage the work to feed the same only during movement of said pawl in one direction; reciprocatory means having cam surfaces adapted to engage said carrier for imparting operative movement thereto; and resilient means for effecting return movement of said carrier, substantially as described.

7. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising a frame adapted for attachment to a punch press bed or the like; a transversely disposed carrier mounted for horizontal reciprocation in said frame; a plate secured to the upper side of said carrier and adjustable thereon in a direction coincident to the movement of said carrier; an arm pivoted at one end of said plate for movement in a vertical plane; a gage cooperating with said arm for limiting lateral movement thereof in one direction; a pawl pivoted to said arm for movement in a horizontal plane, the free end of said pawl being adapted to engage the work to feed the same only during movement of said pawl in one direction; means having cam surfaces adapted to engage said carrier fo imparting operative movement thereto; and resilient means for effecting return movement of said car rier, substantially as described.

8. A feeding mechanism of the class described, comprising reciprocatory means adapted to engage and feed the work when moved in one direction; independent actuatin means adapted for reciprocatory movement to effect operative movement of said work engaging means; and resilient means for effecting the return movement of the work engaging means substantially as described.

9. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising reciprocatory means adapted to engage and feed the work only when moved in one direction; a reciprocatory element operating at substantially right angles to said work engaging means and being independent thereof and adapted upon reciprocatory movement to effect operative movement of said work engaging means; means for frictionally engaging the work to overcome inertia when the work is fed by the work engaging means; and resilient means for effecting the return movement of the work engaging means substantially as described.

10. A feeding mechanism of the class described comprising reciprocatory means adapted to engage and feed the work in a horizontal plane when moved in one direction; independent means adapted for frictionally engaging the work; engaging means to effect operative movement thereof; and means for effecting the return movement of said work engaging means, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IIARVEY C. BAKER.

Witnesses:

HELEN F. LILLIs, Joanna R. H. Porrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

